IRS Begins Accepting Tax Returns Monday

If you are someone who's been filing an income tax return for several years, you automatically tell yourself to take your time because it's not due until the middle of April. We advise that you change that thought right now today. Beginning Monday (January 29), the IRS starts accepting tax returns.

There are two very good reasons to file right away as soon as you can. Both reasons have to do with your amount owed at the bottom of your return. You either over paid or under paid. Either way, the faster you file the better. If you have money coming back, you'll get it sooner. If you owe, you will give yourself more time to come up with payment.

If you are like 80 percent of taxpayers, you are getting a refund. The average refund last year was $2763, and that's no small amount. So the quicker you can get your hands on it, the better your life will be.